restive, came very near stepping on him as he pranced about.

Damon had been gone about half an hour, and the colonel had just
commenced explaining to the man who had brought the mail the manner in
which the capture of the Boxer was to be effected, when suddenly the
report of a pistol startled every one on the portico. A moment afterward
came another, which was followed by a yell of agony.

"What's that?" exclaimed the colonel, springing from his chair in alarm.
"Are we attacked? Get out there, every mother's son of you!" he
continued, as the men, having been aroused by the noise, came pouring
out of the rooms in which they were quartered. "Every man able to draw a
saber get out there! Run for the river! That's where the reports
sounded, and if there are any boats there capture them. That will keep
the Yankees on shore, and we can hunt them up at our leisure!"

The men ran out of the house and started for the river at the top of
their speed, at the same time yelling with all the strength of their
lungs, while the colonel and his officers ran into their room, and
hastily seizing such weapons as came first to their hands, followed
after. To describe Archie's feelings, as he lay there behind that bush
and listened to the sounds of pursuit, were impossible. The noise the
rebels made seemed to bewilder him completely, for he lay on the ground
several moments, it seemed to him, without the power to move hand or
foot.

Suddenly the thought struck him that now was the time to accomplish the
object of the expedition. The house was deserted, and the yells, which
grew fainter and fainter, told him that the rebels were getting further
away. Yes, it was now or never. In an instant, Archie's courage and